Qualitative research on infertile Chinese couples' understanding of sexuality.

Background: Family physicians play an important role in the initial counselling and evaluation of infertility. Despite infertility regarded as a stressor and a life crisis for individuals or couples, little is known about the psychosexual aspects of infertility. On the basis that sexuality is a crucial part of quality of life, it is worthwhile to give more attention to sexuality of infertile couples during their time of experiencing infertility. Objective: This study aimed to gain insight into the dynamic features of the sexuality of infertile couples and to provide meaningful evidence for improving their quality of life. Methods: We employed a qualitative approach to conduct this study. Utilizing purposive sampling method, 56 participants (28 infertile Chinese couples) were recruited from the reproductive medicine centre of a general hospital, and in-depth interviews were conducted with each participant. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse the transcripts. Results: Four themes emerged from the respondents' narratives; these themes relate to the infertile couples' understanding of sexuality: (i) gender identity, (ii) communication about sex, (iii) sexual life and (iv) sexual satisfaction. It was further found that Chinese culture's values of fertility, perceptions about sexuality and sex, social norms regarding gender, and expectations about marital sexual life can have significant effects on infertile Chinese couples' sexuality. Conclusion: These findings should be highly considered by family physicians in their practice to provide infertile couples with information related to sexual well-being, coping styles, relationship, etc.

Searching for answers and validation: Australian women's experiences of coping with the adverse sexual effects of antidepressants.

Sexual difficulties relating to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication have an impact on quality of life and are a common cause for non-adherence to medication. While most research has focussed on the prevalence and treatment of sexual difficulties, little is known about how patients cope with the adverse sexual effects of SSRIs. This qualitative study, using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), investigated the experiences of 10 Australian women currently coping with the adverse sexual effects ofthis antidepressant by conducting semi-structured interviews. This paper presents one major theme from the study and reports the findings related to women's self-reported experiences of interacting with GPs in their search for answers and validation of their concerns. Findings from the study add to the current literature by providing an insight into how interactions with GPs impact on women's abilities to cope with adverse sexual effects. Empathic discussions and shared decision-making between GPs and women can provide the opportunity to improve the management of the adverse sexual effects of SSRIs and may lead to improved outcomes for women.

Women's experiences of coping with the sexual side effects of antidepressant medication.

A growing body of evidence has highlighted the sexual side effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication. Whilst most of the research has focused on the prevalence and treatment of sexual difficulties, little is known about how patients cope with the SSRI-related sexual side effects. The objective of this study was to explore women's experiences of coping with the sexual side effects of SSRI medication and interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed for an in-depth exploratory study of a sample of 10 women. Four broad themes emerged which are discussed under the following headings: searching, suffering in silence, trying to resolve and accepting what is. The themes provide an insight into the different strategies used by women to cope with the sexual side effects of SSRI medication and highlight the importance of contextualising these difficulties as part of an overall approach to improve the management and treatment of SSRI-related sexual side effects.

Variable photon energy photoelectron spectroscopy of tris-cyclopentadienyl lanthanides.

The gas phase photoelectron (PE) spectra of LnCp3 (Cp = η-C5H5; Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm), measured with a wide range of photon energy, are reported. Resonances observed in the photon energy regions of 4d to 4f excitation enable identification of ion states resulting from 4f ionization. For all three compounds molecular ion states characteristic of both 4f(n) and 4f(n-1) configurations are observed (Pr, n = 2; Nd, n = 3; Sm, n = 6). The molecular ion ground states have a hole in the uppermost ligand orbital of a' symmetry and are reached by either ligand or f electron ionization. The results are discussed in the context of the previously reported spectra of the Ce, Yb and Lu analogues. For YbCp3 f orbital/ligand interaction is proposed in the molecular ground state and for CeCp3(+) in the molecular ion ground state. For PrCp3 and NdCp3 final state effects are proposed as the origin of the dual configuration structure in their PE spectra. When the contributing orbitals are close in energy the 4f/a' interaction can give rise to significant covalent bonding even in the absence of effective overlap.

Sexuality following trauma injury: A literature review.

Restoration of the quality of life (QoL) of trauma injury survivors is the aim of trauma rehabilitation. It is generally acknowledged that sexuality is an important component of QoL; however, rehabilitation services frequently fall short of including sexuality as a matter of routine. The literature was reviewed to examine the experiences of trauma survivors from three groups: spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and burns. The focus was on the impact of trauma on the QoL to identify future research directions and to advocate for the inclusion of sexuality as an integral part of rehabilitation. Databases searched were Proquest, Ovid, Cinahl, Medline, PsycInfo and Cochrane Central Register of controlled trials. A total of 36 eligible studies were included: SCI (n = 25), TBI (n = 6), burns (n = 5). Four themes were identified across the three trauma groups that were labeled as physiological impact of trauma on sexuality, cognitive-genital dissociation (CGD), sexual disenfranchisement (SD) and sexual rediscovery (SR). Trauma injury has a significant impact on sexuality, which is not routinely addressed within rehabilitation services. Further sexuality research is required among all trauma groups to improve rehabilitation services and in turn QoL outcomes for all trauma survivors.

Sexuality following burn injuries: a preliminary study.

Responses to the sexuality and body image subdomains of the Burn Specific Health Scale - Brief Version (BSHS-B) were analysed, to identify the incidence of sexuality and body image changes in burn survivors from hospital discharge - 12 months post injury. Data were collected through examination of BSHS-B questionnaires (BSHS-B), from burns patients at hospital discharge and one, three, six and twelve month time points after burn injury. The results demonstrate that burn injuries have a significant negative impact on sexuality and body image satisfaction for burn survivors. The results raise concerns regarding potential long term quality of life (QoL) issues for burn survivors in these domains. Sexuality and body image following burn injuries are important QoL domains that should be addressed during post injury rehabilitation. This preliminary study shows that further empirical research regarding changes to sexuality and body image in the burns population is required.

The effects of translating the Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire from English to Mandarin: a test of reliability and validity.

BACKGROUND: In China, sexuality studies using validated psychosexual instruments are limited, with no valid Mandarin language version of a sexuality inventory with psychometric properties available for use. Thus, the Mandarin version of the Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire (M-MSQ), comprising four subscales, originating from the Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire, was tested for its psychometric properties. METHODS: A convenience sampling technique was employed to recruit 200 oil workers (100 males and 100 females) in northern China. Originally, 158 participants (84 males and 74 females) completed the questionnaire; these accounted for 79% of the total study sample. From this group, a subsample of 50 participants (25 males and 25 females) was randomly selected to investigate the test-retest reliability. Of these, the responses of 33 participants (18 males and 15 females) were valid. The analysis on reliability was based on Cronbach's α, Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) and the intraclass correlation coefficient, also including evaluation on criterion validity and discriminatory validity. RESULTS: The M-MSQ was found to be homogeneous in factor structure, comparing well with the original questionnaire. Both the discriminatory validity and the criterion-related validity were satisfactory in the total sample and gender groups, in addition, the overall reliability of the M-MSQ was sound in internal consistency with Cronbach's α=0.900-0.931. The results of the test-retest showed that the stability of the M-MSQ achieved a positive statistically significant standard assessed by Pearson's coefficient and the intraclass correlation coefficient. CONCLUSION: The M-MSQ is reliable in these four subscales, and may be used as a measure of sexual esteem, sexual conscious, sexual motivation and sexual satisfaction in Mandarin speakers.

Investigating marital relationship in infertility: a systematic review of quantitative studies.

BACKGROUND: Infertility is a complex issue that affects individuals and groups, and also it has serious implications for the mental and social well-being of those involved. The aim of this review was to assess marital relationship in the context of infertility, using data from infertile individuals or both couples. METHODS: A literature search was undertaken using multiple databases (Medline, PsycInfo and Scopus) to identify and synthesize all relevant literature published from 1990 to 2011. All studies in the systematic review were confirmed using specific inclusion criteria; the methodological quality of these studies were examined according to a checklist. RESULTS: Of the potential 794 articles, 18 studies were included in the final analysis, of which 6 were graded as high quality and 12 as moderate. The results indicated male factor infertility did not have a negative marital impact. In addition, infertile male participants expressed higher marital satisfaction than their wives. Infertile females had significantly less stable marital relationship compared to fertile females, which was associated with their socio-demographics and treatment experience. For infertile couples, the infertile subjects or their partners' marital relationship was affected by either member's infertility, experience specifically coping strategies. Moreover other factors such as sexual satisfaction, age of the infertile couples, education level, and congruency of couples' perceptions of infertility were associated with the quality of martial relationship. CONCLUSION: Although the review can provide an outline of marital relationship in infertility, future studies should focus on the perspective from both infertile couple, across a range of different infertility types, including extended sample sizes and longitudinal study designs. In addition, more consideration should be given to qualitative study.

Testing the psychometric properties of Mandarin version of the fertility problem inventory (M-FPI) in an infertile Chinese sample.

The Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI) is an instrument to measure infertility-related stress, and has been widely used in a range of clinical settings. It has been translated into several languages, however there is no validated Mandarin version. The present study tests the psychometric properties of the Mandarin version of FPI (M-FPI). A hospital sample of 223 infertile Chinese couples (223 men and 223 women) completed the M-FPI along with other measures including demographics, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, which were used to assess the reliability and validity of the Mandarin version of FPI. Results showed that the M-FPI was best reduced to a five? factor solution, and all 46 items of the M-FPI showed moderate to high internal consistency. In addition, the test of convergent and discriminant validity from this study indicated satisfactory results. These results indicate that the M-FPI as an instrument is reliable and valid for use with infertile Chinese couples in clinical assessment.

The impact of infertility on sexuality: A literature review.

BACKGROUND: Most studies address medical treatment of infertility and psychosocial outcomes caused by infertility-related stress, but few studies examine the infertility's impact on sexuality. AIM: A literature review was conducted to answer the questions: 1) How is sexual self concept impacted in infertile individuals and their partners? 2) Does infertility have a negative impact on sexual relationships? 3) Is sexual function affected by infertility? In answering these questions, we may develop a better understanding of sexuality in the context of infertility, and thus better inform infertility management. Ultimately the aim is to improve the quality of life for infertile couples. METHOD: A literature search was conducted for publications from 1990 to 2011 via the electronic databases PubMed, PsycInfo and Scopus, which focused on sexuality in infertile subjects or couples. RESULTS: In this review, all studies were descriptive quantitative studies which mapped the different aspects of sexuality in the context of infertility. The results suggested that infertility and its treatment approaches for fertilisation could lead to changes in sexual self-esteem, sexual relationship and sexual function. CONCLUSION: The literature substantiated that many infertile subjects experienced trouble in various aspects of sexuality. However, further research should examine the reciprocal relations between sexual self concept, sexual relationship and sexual function in the context of infertility. How these changes affect the partners of infertile subjects should also be addressed.

A mystery solved? Photoelectron spectroscopic and quantum chemical studies of the ion states of CeCp3(+).

The electronic states of CeCp(3)(+) have been studied experimentally by variable photon energy photoelectron spectroscopy, and computationally using multi-configurational ab initio methods. Relative partial photoionisation cross section and branching ratio data are presented to confirm our previous conclusion that bands A and D in the valence photoelectron spectrum, despite their 3.2 eV separation, are produced by ionization of the single 4f electron of CeCp(3) [M. Coreno, M. de Simone, J. C. Green, N. Kaltsoyannis, N. Narband and A. Sella, Chem. Phys. Lett., 432, 2006, 17]. The origin of this effect is probed using the CASSCF/CASPT2 approach. While configurations based on the canonical CASSCF orbitals are found to be an unreliable description of the ground and excited states of CeCp(3)(+), the state-specific natural orbitals and their occupations yield greater insight, allowing us to characterize ion states in terms of the presence or otherwise of a Ce 4f-localised electron. Neither the CeCp(3)(+) ground state (assigned to band A), and two excited states ((1)A' and (1)A'', associated with band D), possess such a metal-based electron, as expected of f ionization. The (1)A' and (1)A'' states differ from the ground state in having a significant Ce 5d population, arising from Cp --> Ce charge transfer, which accompanies f ionization, and which is responsible for the energetic separation of bands A and D in the valence photoelectron spectrum.

Is cerocene really a Ce(III) compound? All-electron spin-orbit coupled CASPT2 calculations on M(eta(8)-C8H8)2 (M = Th, Pa, Ce).

Spin-orbit free CASPT2 wave functions and energies are presented for the ground and 31 excited states of three f element sandwich molecules; thorocene (ThCOT(2)), protactinocene (PaCOT(2)), and cerocene (CeCOT(2)). Ground-state metal-ring centroid distances are optimized at this level and show excellent agreement with experiment. The effects of spin-orbit coupling are included and are found to be negligible for the ground states of ThCOT(2) and CeCOT(2), for which comparison of the electronic excitation energies is made with experimental data. For PaCOT(2), spin-orbit coupling is found to alter significantly the energies and nature of the ground and low-lying excited states, and good agreement is obtained with previous computational data. The ground state of CeCOT(2) is found to be strongly multiconfigurational, though not in the same way as previously reported. The relationship of this result to previous computational and experimental data is discussed, as is the most appropriate way to view the electronic structure of CeCOT(2). It is concluded that the occupations of the natural orbitals produce a more reliable description of the CeCOT(2) ground state than does the configurational admixture.